Container having reverse profile unidirectional fastener



Nov. 12, 1968 s. AUSNIT 3,410,327

CONTAINER HAVING REVERSE PROFILE UNIDIRECTIONAL FASTENER Filed April 6, 1966 52 v I p I M%I%/%9%EYS United States Patent 3,410,327 CONTAINER HAVING REVERSE PROFILE UNIDIRECTIONAL FASTENER Steven Ausnit, 124 E. 61st St., New York, N.Y. 10021 Filed Apr. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 540,714 14 Claims. (Cl. 150-3) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flexible container having interlocking rib and groove elements wherein the container is closed by pressing the elements together and opened by drawing the elements apart. The rib element consists of a pair of profile arms formed at an angle to have an intermediate groove there between, and the groove element consists of a pair of hook arms enveloping the profile arms and having anintermediate rib for being received within the intermediate groove of the outwardly extending profile arms. The combination of the profile arm and hook arm at the interior of the container is arranged to resist opening more than the similar combination formed at the outside of the container.

. This invention relates to 'a flexible container having interlocking rib and groove elements wherein the container may be closed by pressing the elements together and opened by drawing the elements apart. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel rib and groove structure which may be opened more easily from the outside than from the inside of the container.

Flexible containers having interlocking rib and groove elements for opening and closing the container have become increasingly desirable as substitutes for paper and plastic containers which are not effectively reclosable. However, if the reclosable flexible container is to be a usable substitute, it must be economically competitive as well as qualitatively desirable.

In order to reduce the cost of the flexible container, means have been developed for extruding a uniformly strong plastic film having a greatly reduced thickness. However, while the strength of the film may be adequate for normal handling purposes, an opening force may be required for the container which exceeds the film strength. This means that the film may not satisfactorily sustain the pulling force required to separate the elements.

However, if the engagement strength of the interlocking rib and groove elements is reduced in order to permit a generally easier opening of the container, the container would be subject to being opened simply by the weight of the contents thereof which tends to spread the rib and groove elements. Accordingly, the reclosable feature of such containers would be appreciably lost. However, means have been provided to develop an increased resistance to opening of the rib and groove elements at the inside of the container, while decreasing the opening re sistance at the outside of the container. Such a means allows the container to sustain the internal loads experienced from the weight of the contents thereof while permitting the container to be constructed of a lighter weight material which nevertheless will be sufiiciently strong for sustaining the opening forces at the outside of the container.

This invention has as a principal object the developing of an interlocking rib and groove element which may be more easily opened from the outside of a flexible container than from the inside thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an interlocking rib and groove element for a flexible container wherein the rib element has profile arms extending from one wall of the container and the groove element has hook arms for engaging the profile arms and for closing the container thereby.

It is another object of this invention to provide a flexible container having interlocking rib and groove elements wherein the rib element consists of profile rib arms extending from a wall of the container and having an intermediate recess formed between the arms and wherein the groove element includes hook arms for enveloping the profile rib anms and wherein the hook arm facing the outside of the container is shorter than the hook arm facing the interior of the container.

It is a further object of this invention to provide interlocking rib and groove elements for a flexible container wherein the rib element comprises a pair of profile rib arms having an arm angled toward the outside of the container which is shorter than the arm angled toward the inside of the container and wherein the groove element has hook arms cooperable with the profile arms for closing the interior of the container.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide interlocking rib and groove elements for a flexible container wherein the rib element comprises first and second profile arms angled inwardly and outwardly of the container respectively wherein the second profile arm has a thickness which is substantially less than the thickness of the first profile arm.

It is also an object of this invention to provide rib and groove elements for a flexible reclosable container wherein the rib element consists of a pair of profile arms extending toward the interior and toward the exterior of the container respectively and wherein the profile arm extending toward the interior of the container forms a substantially less acute angle with the adjoining wall of the container than the angle similarly formed by the outwardly facing profile arm.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rib and groove element structure for a flexible reclosable container wherein the rib element consists: of a pair of profile arms extending toward the interior and toward the exterior of the container and wherein the groove element consists of hook arms which envelop the profile arms and which has an intermediate rib disposed between the profile arms and which has the hook arm facing the exterior of the container formed of a flexible material having a thickness which is substantially less than the thickness of the corresponding hook arm facing the interior of the container.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description and the associated drawings wherein reference numerals are utilized in designating illustrative embodiments and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a flexible reclosable container having interlocking rib and groove elements as characterized in this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of rib and groove elements of the type utilized in the container of FIGURE 1 showing a difference in the size of the hook arms associated with the groove element;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the rib and groove elements having features of this invention and particularly having a hook arm of a groove element which is formed of flexible material having a thickness less than the thickness of the corresponding arm at the interior side of the rib and groove structure;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similarto the views of FIGURES 2 and 3 showing an alternate form of the closure structure wherein the rib element has a shorter and a longer profile arm;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of rib and groove elements having the features of this invention indicating the increased flexibilty of a profile arm havng a thickness which is substantially less than the thickness of a profile arm facing the interior of the associated flexible container; and

FIGURE 6 is a further embodiment of the rib and groove structures having the features of this invention wherein one of the profile arms forms a substantially more acute angle with the adjoining wall of the flexible container.

FIGURE 7 is another form showing the interlocking rib and groove features of this invention.

Generally, this invention concerns a novel rib and groove structure for a flexible container which permits the container to be more easily opened from the outside than from the inside thereby decreasing the strength requirements of the container material and increasing the desirability of the container by reducing the effort required to gain access to the contents thereof.

In FIGURE 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a flexible container having interlocking rib and groove elements according to this invention. The container 10 has side walls 11 and 12 which may be either heat sealed or formed integrally at a base 13. The film forming the walls 11 and 12 may be extruded as a cylindrical shell which is integrally formed at the folded region 13 which provides the bottom of the container. The cylindrical shell is then heat sealed along the edges (not shown) extending from the fold 13 to the container opening.

The opening of the container as at 14 may be formed by slitting the cylindrical plastic film and forming the edges 15 and 16. The edges 15 and 16 are allowed to extend above the rib and groove elements to provide grip flanges 17 and 18 which may be drawn apart for opening the interlocking rib and groove elements to gain access to the interior of the container.

Since the grip flanges 17 and 18 are quite thin, a bead 19 is formed at the inner face 20 of the flange 17 and abuts the inner face 21 of the flange 18. The bead 19 extends along the length of the edge 15 and maintains the flanges 17 and 18 separated, enabling the user to more easily distinguish between the edges 15 and 16 of the respective grip flanges.

The interlocking rib and groove elements 22 and 23 are formed integrally with the cylindrical resilient film at the inner faces 20 and 21 of the side walls 11 and 12. The rib and groove elements 22 and 23 are orientated sufliciently below the edges 15 and 16 to allow the flanges 17 and 18 to be adequately held for drawing the interlocking elements apart to open the container. It may be noted that the sectional view of FIGURE 1 is broken as at 24, and in fact, the length of the container 10 is substantially greater relative to the thickness of the film than is otherwise indicated by the illustration.

The configuration of the rib and groove elements associated with the container 10 of FIGURE 1, is shown in the enlarged cross sectional view of FIGURE 2. In particular, the rib element 22 is integrally formed at a base 25 with the inner surface 21 of the flexible wall 12. Similarly, the groove element 23 is formed integrally at a base 26 with the inner surface 20 of the flexible wall 11.

The rib element consists of first and second profile arms 27 and 28 respectively. The profile arm 27 extends outwardly from the inner surface 21 of the wall 12 and also extends inwardly toward the interior of the container 10'. Likewise, the profile arm 28 extends outwardly from the wall 12 in the direction of the opposing wall ll, and in addition the arm 28 is directed toward the outside of the container 10.

Due to the angled positioning of the profile arms 27 and 28 relative to the flexible wall 12, grip surfaces 29 and 30 are formed facing the inner surface 21 for being engaged by the groove element 23. In addition, the angled orientation of the profile arms 27 and 28 defines an intermediate recess 31 formed between the respective arms.

The groove element 23 has first and second hook arms 32 and 33 extending from th base connection 26 to the flexible wall 11. The hook arms 3g and 33 have extension portions 34 and 35 and hook portions 36 and 37 for engaging the rib element 22. In particular, the hook portions 36 and 37 have an inner surface 38 and 39 for enveloping the grip surfaces 29 and 30 of the rib element.

In addition, the groove element 23 has an intermediate rib 40 formed between the hook arms 32 and 33 and having faces 41 and 42 cooperable with the intermediate recess 31 of the rib element 22.

In FIGURE 2, the hook portion 37 of the hook arm 33 is substantially shorter than the hook portion 36 of the hook arm 32, and the hook portion 36 of the arm 32 extends closer toward the flexible wall 12 than does the hook portion 37 of the arm 33. Therefore, a larger contact surface between the hook portion 36 and the grip surface 29 of the rib element exists than between the hook portion 37 and the grip surface 30. Accordingly, by spreading the grip flanges 17 and 18, the hook arm 33 may be easily drawn from its engaged position with the profile arm 28. In contrast, the hook arm 32 resists being disengaged with the profile arm 27 when the walls 11 and 12 at the interior side of the container are drawn apart. This is because the profile arm 27 penetrates to a greater depth between the hook portion 36 and the intermediate rib 40 than the similar penetration of the profile arm 28 between the hook portion 37 and the intermediate rib 40 and also because of the greater grip surface between hook portion 36 and rib profile arm 27.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternate embodiment for achieving the opening differential between the force required to unlock the hook arm 32 and the force required to unlock the hook arm 33. In FIGURE 3, a distinguishing characteristic is that the hook portion 37 is formed to have approximately the same length as the hook portion 36; however, the hook portion 37 is formed of flexible material having a thickness 43 which is substantially less than the thickness 44 of the hook portion 36. Accordingly, the hook arm 37 is less able to sustain the spreading forces at the grip flanges 17 and 18 than the hook arm portion 36 is able to sustain such forces at the inside portion of the flexible walls 11 and 12.

In spreading the grip flanges 17 and 18, the hook portion 37 of the hook arm 33 is easily deflected about the profile arm 28 of the rib element 22. Therefore, the desired force differential between the effort required to open the container from the inside and the effort required at the outside has been satisfactorily achieved.

Another embodiment of the unidirectional opening container of this invention is shown in FIGURE 4 wherein the hook portions 36 and 37 of the hook arms 32 and 33 of the groove element 23, respectively, are formed to have substantially the same length. However, the profile arm 28 of the rib element 22 is formed substantially shorter than the profile arm 27 of that element. It is also possible to fill in the hook arm 33 to conform substantially with the shape of the shortened profile arm 28, and thereby stiffen the hook arm 33 and make the transmittal of the pull from the flange 17 that much more effective. Therefore, the contact area between the arms 27 and 28 and the hook portions 36 and 37 of the hook arms 32 and 33 is substantially less at the open side of the container than at the interior thereof. Accordingly, by spreading the flanges 17 and 18, the hook arm 33 is easily disengaged from the shortened profile arm 28, while the hook arm 32 resists disengagement with the profile arm 27 in response to a spreading force at the inside portion of the side walls 11 and 12.

A further embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGURE 5 wherein the profile arm 28 is substantially the same length as the profile arm 27, and the hook portions 37 and 36 of the hook arms 33 and 32 are substantially identical. However, the profile arm 28 is formed of flexible material having a thickness 46 which is substantially less than the thickness 47 of the profile arm 27. Accordingly, the arm 28 is substantially more flexible than the arm 27. Therefore, the hook arm 33 and the profile arm 28 are more easily disengaged than the hook arm 32 and the profile arm 27. Hence, the container may also be more easily opened from the outside than from the inside.

Finally, the unidirectional opening feature associated with the rib and groove elements of this invention is further illustrated in FIGURE 6. In FIGURE 6, the hook portion 36 of the hook arm 32 is substantially identical in length and thickness with the hook portion 37 of the hook arm 33. Also the profile arm 27 is substantially equal in length and thickness to the profile arm 28. However, the angle (alpha) formed between the grip surface 29 of the profile arm 27 and the inner surface 21 of the flexible wall 12 is substantially less than the angle (beta) formed between the grip surface 30 of the profile arm 28 and the inner surface 21 of the flexible wall 12. Therefore, the hook angle between the inner surface 38 of the hook portion 36 and the grip surface 29 of the profile arm 27 is greater than the hook angle between the inner surface 39 of the hook portion 37 and the grip surface 30 of the profile arm 28. This means that the hook arm 33 will be more readily disengaged wi h the profile arm 28 due to a force exerted at the grip flanges 17 and 18 than the hook arm 32 will be disengaged with the profile arm 27 in response to a spreading force exerted at the inside portion of flexible walls 11 and 12.

It is apparent from FIGURE 7 that the rib element can be made solid as at 48. Here the rib element is substantially diamond shaped such that the spreading of the flanges 17 and 18 will cause the solid tip 50 to exert an opening force on the extension arm 49 as at 51, that is greater than the opening force caused by the spreading of the inner walls 11 and 12 on the extension arm 52 as at 53.

It will be apparent to those versed in the art that various modifications and combinations of the features disclosed in this invention may be accomplished without departing from the scope and spirit of the novel concepts set forth herein, and accordingly I desire to claim all such modifications and combinations as are properly within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having first and second angled surfaces diverging from the point of attachment at the container outwardly therefrom and said groove element having hook arms which extend about and interlock with the angled surfaces, a first of said hook arms engaging the angled surface facing outwardly of the container and the second of said hook arms engaging the angled surface facing inwardly of the container,

said second hook arm being formed to be substantially more rigid than the first hook arm for developing a greater resistance to opening at the inside of the container.

2. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having first and second angled surfaces extending from the point of attachment at the container outwardly therefrom and said groove element having hook arms which extend about and interlock with the angled surfaces, a first of said hook arms engaging the angled surface facing outwardly of the container and the second of said hook arms engaging the angled surface facing inwardly of the container,

said angled surface facing inwardly of the container forming an acute angle with the adjoining wall of the container which is substantially less than the acute angle similarly formed by the other like angled surface of the rib element.

3. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having first and second angled surfaces extending from the point of attachment at the container outwardly therefrom and said groove element having hook arms which extend about and interlock with the angled surfaces, a first of said hook arms engaging the angled surface facing outwardly of the container and the second of said hook arms engaging the angled surface facing inwardly of the container, the engagement surface between said first hook arm and its associated angled rib surface being substantially smaller than the engagement surface between said second hook arm and its associated angled rib surface.

4. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together, said rib element having a. base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container, said base having first and second profile arms forming a recess intermediate the arms,

said arms having first and second angled surfaces which diverge toward a second wall from their point of attachment at the container for forming grip surfaces for being engaged by said groove element,

said groove element having first and second hook arms for extending about and interlocking with the grip surfaces of the profile arms and having an intermediate ridge for being received within the intermediate recess of the rib element,

said first hook arm of said groove element being disposed toward the closed end of the container and said second hook arm being disposed toward the opened end of the container,

said first hook arm engaging said first profile arm. and

said second hook arm engaging said secnd profile arm,

said first hook arm having a larger surface contact with said first profile arm than said second hook arm has surface contact with said second profile arm. 5. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together, said rib element having a base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container, said base having first and second profile arms forming a recess intermediate the arms, said arms having first and second angled surfaces which diverge toward a second wall from their point of attachment at the container for forming grip surfaces for being engaged by said groove element,

said groove element having first and second hook arms for extending about and interlocking with the grip surfaces of the profile arms and having an intermediate ridge for being received within the intermediate recess of the rib element,

said first hook arm being disposed inwardly of the container for engaging said first profile arm and said second hook arm being disposed outwardly of the container for engaging said second profile arm, said first hook arm being longer than said second hook arm, and said first hook arm being extended further along the grip surface of said first profile arm toward said first wall of the container than said second hook arm is extended along the grip surface of the second profile arm toward said first wall of the container,

whereby said flexible container opens easily from the outside and resists opening from the inside.

6. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having a base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container,

said base having first and second profile arms extending toward the inner surface of a second wall of the container and forming a recess intermediate the arms, said arms having first and second angled surfaces which diverge toward the opposite wall from their point of attachment at the container, for forming grip surfaces for being engaged by said groove element,

said groove element having first and second hook arms for extending about and interlocking with the grip surfaces of the profile arms and having an intermediate ridge for being received within the intermediate recess of the rib element,

said first hook arm being disposed inwardly of the container for engaging said first profile arm and said second hook arm being disposed outwardly of the container for engaging said second profile arm, said second hook arm having substantially increased resiliency relative to said first hook arm for being more easily drawn from an engaged position at said second profile arm than said first hook arm is drawn from an engaged position with said first profile arm, whereby said container opens more easily from the outside than from the inside.

7. A flexible container as described in claim 6 wherein said second hook arm has a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said first hook arm, whereby said second hook arm deflects more easily than said first hook arm for opening the flexible container.

8. A flexible container as described in claim 6 wherein said second hook arm is substantially shorter than said first hook arm and wherein said first hook arm extends substantially closer to said first wall of the container than said second hook arm extends to said first wall.

9. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having a base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container, said base having first and second profile arms forming a recess intermediate the arms,

said arms having first and second angled surfaces which diverge toward a second wall from their point of attachment at the container for forming grip surfaces for being engaged by said groove element,

said groove element having first and second hook arms for extending about and interlocking with the grip surfaces of the profile arms and having an intermediate ridge for receiving within the intermediate recess of the rib element, said first hook arm being disposed inwardly of the container for engaging said first profile arm and said second hook arm being disposed outwardly of the container for engaging said second profile arm, and said second profile arm having substantially greater resiliency than said first profile arm,

whereby the engagement of said second hook arm and second profile arm is more easily drawn apart than the engagement of said first hook arm and said first profile arm.

10. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having a base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container, said base having first and second profile arms forming a recess intermediate the arms, said arms having first and second angled surfaces which diverge toward the second wall from their point of attachment at the container for forming grip surfaces for being engaged by said groove element,

said groove element having first and second hook arms for extending about and interlocking with the grip surfaces of the profile arms and having an intermediate ridge for being received within the intermediate recess of the rib element,

said second profile arm having a thickness substantially less than the thickness of said first profile arm for yielding more easily in response to an opening force exerted on said hook arms, whereby said container opens more easily from the outside thereof.

11. A flexible container reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having a base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container,

said base having first and second profile arm's extending toward the inner surface of the second wall of the container and forming a recess intermediate the arms, said arms being angled relative to said first wall for forming a grip surface for being engaged by said groove element,

said groove element having first and second hook arms for extending about and interlocking with the grip surfaces of the profile arms and having an intermediate ridge for being received within the intermediate recess of the rib element,

said first hook arm being disposed inwardly of the container for engaging said first profile arm and said second hook arm being disposed outwardly of the container for engaging said second profile arm,

said first profile arm being substantially longer and extending substantially closer to said second wall of the container than said first profile arm, and said first hook arm enveloping said first profile arm to a depth greater than said second hook arm envelops said second profile arm.

12. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together, said rib element having a base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container,

said base having first and second profile arms extending toward the inner surface of the second wall of the container and forming a recess intermediate the arms, said arms being angled relative to said first wall for forming a grip surface for being engaged by said groove element,

said groove element having first and second book arms for extending about and interlocking with the grip surfaces of the profile arms and having an intermeidate ridge for being received within the intermediate recess of the rib element,

said first profile arm forming an acute angle with said first wall of the container which is substantially less than the acute angle formed therewith by said second profile arm, whereby said second profile arm releases said second hook arm more easily than said first profile arm releases said first hook arm.

13. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface of said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having a base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container, said rib element having substantially planar surfaces extending obliquely from opposite sides of said base toward the opposing wall of the flexible container,

said groove element being formed opposite said rib element and having extension portions extending obliquely outwardly from the attached container wall toward said rib element and having hook portions extending inwardly from the ends of the extension portions for gripping said substantially planar surfaces of the rib element, i

said rib element having a substantially diamond shaped profile and said extension portions and hook portions of said groove element having substantailly planar inner surfaces for engaging the outer surfaces of the rib element, one of said hook portions being shorter than the opposing hook portion,

said shorter hook portion being formed at the outside of the container,

and said longer hook portion being formed at the inside of the container.

14. A flexible container having reclosable interlocking rib and groove elements formed at the inner surface o said container adjacent the opening thereof,

said container being opened by drawing said elements apart and being closed by pressing the elements together,

said rib element having a base secured to the inner surface of a first wall of the flexible container,

said rib element having substantially planar surfaces extending obliquely from opposite sides of said base toward the opposing wall of the flexible container,

said groove element being formed opposite said rib element and having extension portions extending obliquely outwardly from the attached container wall toward said rib element and having hook portions extending inwardly from the ends of the extension portions for gripping said substantially planar surfaces of the rib element,

said rib element forming a greater engagement angle at the outside of the container than at the inside of the container,

whereby the container opens more easily from the outside thereof and resists opening from the inside.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,703,712 2/1929 Aud 150-3 3,198,228 8/1965 Naito l50--3 3,338,285 8/1967 Jaster 150-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 943,668 12/1963 Great Britain.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. 

